AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00490

The applicant was discharged on 8 October 2019 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Drug Abuse).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The Board was conducted on 14 December 2021.  

The applicant was offered a personal appearance before the Discharge Review Board (DRB), but declined and requested the board be completed based on a records only review.  The applicant was not represented by counsel.    

Pursuant to 10 USC §1553, the board included a member who is a psychiatrist/ psychologist with training on mental health issues connected with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and training on mental health disorders.

The attached examiner’s brief (provided to applicant only), extracted from available service records, contains pertinent data regarding the circumstances and character of the applicant’s military service. 
  
FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to approve the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable, to change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority, and to change the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C.

DISCUSSION:  The DRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the characterization of service and the narrative reason for discharge if such changes are warranted.  If applicable, the board can also change the applicant’s reenlistment eligibility code.  In reviewing discharges, the board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the applicant.  The Board completed a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the discharge and the discharge process to determine if the discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety.  

The applicant’s record of service included a Letter of Reprimand for wrongful use of marijuana.  

Due to evidence of a mental health condition found in the applicant’s medical record, the Board considered the case based on the liberal consideration standards required by guidance from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and 10 USC §1553.

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable because he had served honorably in the Air Force and his drug use was a one-time incident after learning the news of his mother’s unexpected death.  He claims he applied for a humanitarian reassignment but was denied and that he turned to marijuana to cope with the loss.  He admitted to the drug use two years after it occurred hoping to be afforded a second chance in the Air Force.  He asserted this was a one-time use and without this mistake he’d still be serving honorably.  

A review of the record revealed the applicant was interviewed by the Air Force Office of Investigation and admitted to using marijuana two years earlier at his prior duty station.  The unit issued a Letter of Reprimand and administratively discharged him based on his admission.  The DRB noted the applicant’s drug use was not discovered until two years after the fact and was only discovered through his own admission and cooperation with investigators.  The applicant served for two additional years after the drug use without incident, therefore, the DRB determined there was sufficient evidence in his records to corroborate the applicant’s contention that his use was a one-time mistake and his service was otherwise honorable.

CONCLUSION:  The Board found neither the evidence of record, nor that provided by the applicant substantiated an impropriety.  However, sufficient evidence existed to convince the board the discharge was inequitable.  Therefore, the Board determined the overall characterization of the applicant’s service was more accurately reflected by an Honorable, the discharge narrative reason was more accurately described as “Secretarial Authority,” and the reenlistment eligibility code was changed to “2C.”     

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 19 December 2021.  If desired, the applicant can request a list of the board members and their votes by writing to:  

Air Force Review Boards Agency
Attn: Discharge Review Board
3351 Celmers Lane
Joint Base Andrews, NAF Washington, MD 20762-6602  
Instructions on how to appeal an AFDRB decision can be found at 
https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)